The NCAA News - News and Features

March 2, 1998

Legislative assistance

1998 Column No. 9NCAA Bylaw 14.5.5.3.7
Discontinued sport -- transfer -- Division I

Division I institutions should note that pursuant to Bylaw 14.5.5.3.7, student-athletes may utilize the discontinued/nonsponsored-sport exception to be eligible immediately at the certifying institution only if one of the following conditions has occurred:

a. The student's original four-year collegiate institution dropped the sport (in which the student has practiced or competed at that institution in intercollegiate competition) from its intercollegiate program; or

b. The student's original four-year collegiate institution reclassified the sport (in which the student has practiced or competed at that institution in intercollegiate competition) from Division I to Division III status, and the student subsequently had not competed in that sport on the Division III level; or

c. The student's original four-year collegiate institution never sponsored the sport on the intercollegiate level while the student was in attendance at the institution, provided the student had never transferred from any other collegiate institution that offered intercollegiate competition in that particular sport.

During its January 27, 1998, telephone conference, the Division I Academic/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Legislative Review/Interpretations determined that a transfer student may use the discontinued/nonsponsored-sport exception to the one-year residence requirement only after the date the sport was scheduled to be discontinued. For example, if an institution announces during the fall semester that it will discontinue the sport of baseball at the end of the academic year, a student-athlete who transfers prior to the end of the academic year (e.g., midyear) is not permitted to use the discontinued/nonsponsored-sport exception.

NCAA Bylaw 13.11.8.2

Functions organized by booster groups surrounding
the National Letter of Intent signings

Division I institutions should note that pursuant to Bylaw 13.11.8.2, institutional press conferences, receptions, dinners and similar meetings held for the purpose of making such an announcement are expressly prohibited. However, during its January 27, 1998, telephone conference, the Division I Academic/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Legislative Review/Interpretations determined that functions that are designed to celebrate the institution's signees in the applicable sport, at which the institutional coaching staff members appear and discuss prospects who have signed commitments to attend the institution, would not be contrary to the provisions of 13.11.8.2, provided:

a. The institution previously has released communications of a prospect's commitment to attend the institution to media outlets normally used by the institution and by the educational institutions currently and formerly attended by the prospect;

b. The function or activity is not held in conjunction (simultaneously) with an announcement to the public of the prospect's signing commitment; and

c. The function is closed to the working media.

This material was provided by the membership services staff as an aid to member institutions. If an institution has a question or comment regarding this column, such correspondence should be directed to Richard C. Perko or Kristen L. Davis, membership services representatives, at the NCAA national office. This information is available on the Collegiate Sports Network.